大象传媒

Please note:

This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.

It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.

听

R4 Opening anno

大象传媒 Radio 4.听 It鈥檚 ten past eight and time for Sunday Worship. On St. David鈥檚 Day, we go live to St. Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, West Wales where the service will be led by the Rev鈥檇 Canon Dorrien Davies.听 The Preacher is the Dean, the Very Rev鈥檇 Jonathan Lean, who also introduces the service.听听 We begin with the Introit 鈥� 鈥淥 Praise the Lord鈥�.

听Item 1:听 Introit with Choir 鈥� 鈥淥 Praise the Lord鈥� Adrian Batten

听Item 2:听 WELCOME 鈥� The Dean

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Good morning and Welcome.听 You join us in Britain鈥檚 smallest city where St David founded his monastery in the 6th century and established a life of sacrifice and service, characterized by heroic austerity and self-denial. It was a calling that inspired not just his community but his contemporaries who flocked here during his lifetime; and after his death attracted countless pilgrims who came, and still come here to say their prayers and be inspired by his example, summed up in his last words to his disciples to do the same 鈥榣ittle things鈥� which they had seen and heard him do and say.听

As we continue with our Lenten series, we reflect this morning on how we were Created for Togetherness and it seems fitting that This beautiful medieval Cathedral, nestling in a valley, not far from the coastline, continues to be a place in which visitors and pilgrims encounter the divine and feel a togetherness with the thousands of visitors and pilgrims who have come to worship God in this place for over 1500 years.听

In the hymn so closely associated around the world with Wales, we proclaim God鈥檚 faithfulness and constancy in guiding a pilgrim people.

Item 3: HYMN 鈥� CONGREGATION听 & CHOIR听听

Guide听 me, O thou great Redeemer

Item 4: OPENING PRAYER 鈥� The Canon Residentiary

Let us pray 鈥� Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, you have called all Christians to be united in a common purpose. Help us to be of one mind in serving you and one another. Give us a true sense of togetherness, a spirit of common service and a vision to bring others to share in the joy of knowing you. As Saint David brought his followers together in worship and praise, thanksgiving, prayer and service, may we follow his example and offer our lives to your greater glory and the benefit of your Church and people, through Jesus Christ our Lord.听听听

Amen

听Item 5: OPENING RESPONSES 鈥� (Bernard Rose)

鈥淥 LORD, open thou our lips;

And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

O God, make speed to save us:

O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Praise ye the Lord;

The Lord鈥檚 name be praised.鈥�

Item 6: LINK 鈥� The Canon Residentiary

The Cathedral Choir will now sing verses from Psalm 16 which reflects on God鈥檚 presence in His creation. Saint David and his followers were acutely aware of their surroundings and considered nature and the seasons to reflect all that was holy and blessed by God. The psalm reminds us that God holds all things in his hands and shares with us the bounty of His grace.

Item 7: CHOIR 鈥� PSALM 16 vs. 3, 5-8

Item 8: READING 鈥� Colossians 3: 12-17听 The Revd Dr Adrian Furse

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 听Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 听And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Thanks be to God.

Item 9 听 LINK听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CANON DORRIEN DAVIES

The Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Reverend Jonathan Lean will shortly give the Address, after we鈥檝e heard the anthem Jubilate - William Walton鈥檚 setting of Psalm 100.

Item 10:听听 CHOIR - ANTHEM听 - 鈥淛ubilate鈥�: Psalm 100听

Item 11:听听听听 ADDRESS 1 鈥� The Dean

St Paul in our reading today challenges us to consider what it means to live in community. His words, addressed to the fledgling Church in Colossia, have a resonance with the struggle which Christians face, as we seek to live lives of grace and faith in a society which has become increasingly individualistic and selfish. St Paul, who was himself not averse to controversy or indeed quarrelling with others, advocates the importance of basing one鈥檚 Christian life, faith and behaviour upon God-given virtues which he describes so eloquently.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Compassion is an inner attitude that one ought to have towards the other, it is the frame of mind in which, both publicly and privately, we should consider the needs and feelings of those with whom we share our lives. Yet it can seem that so often the way in which we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ resembles little of the compassion of which he speaks.听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Kindness and humility are virtues which can often be in short supply. Humility may appear to be a weakness in a world where striving for the next goal, achieving the latest target, pushing ourselves ever forward is seen to be both acceptable and encouraged. But in Christ, we find that humility enables us to display our vulnerable and broken lives without fear of scorn or condemnation. It鈥檚 through that willingness to be vulnerable before Christ and others that we truly share in the joy which acts of kindness so often bring. It鈥檚 humility which enables us to recognize our weaknesses and to accept the support, care and kindness so often available to us, if only we took the time to look around.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Gentleness and patience are wholly necessary when seeking to live together, be it on a personal or communal basis. Jesus, despite the pressures placed upon him by his own disciples, and despite the threat of intimidation and violence by the authorities of the time, always displayed patience when dealing with those in need, with the poor, the outcast and the little children. In his gentle and patient approach, Jesus models for us what it means to recognize that our needs are not greater than others. That our lives, however busy they may be, must not be so dominated by self, that we cannot find time for those whom we love, and those so in need of our love.听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 In this season of Lent, we reflect often upon the importance of forgiveness. In a world which seems so often to seek vengeance for acts of brutality or violence, Christians are called to exercise and seek forgiveness 鈥� however hard that may be - in order that through such behavior Christ鈥檚 kingdom may flourish and increase. It is in and through forgiveness that healing may begin and we find the peace that abides in the hearts and minds of each one of us.

All of these virtues draw us together in love. For its only by loving one another that we can truly call ourselves Christians, it鈥檚 only through loving one another, and displaying that commitment and care to one another, that we can truly seek to discern the will of God in the world. The love that Jesus shows to us upon the Cross, is that same self-sacrificing love which he calls us to live out as His body in the world. A love which binds each and every one of us together in perfect harmony.

Item 12:听听听听 HYMN 鈥� CONGREGATION & CHOIR

In Christ there is no east or west,

Item 13: ADDRESS 2 鈥� The Dean

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The wonderful words by Michael Perry,听 鈥淚n Christ there is no east or west 鈥� He breaks all barriers down; By Christ redeemed, by Christ possessed, in Christ we live as one鈥� reminding us of the concept of living out a life of as one in Christ. This is something that has been striven for on this holy site for nearly 1500 years. Yet it is surprising, that St David, who had himself been educated by the blind monk Paulinus, and influenced by the example and teaching of the hermit Desert Father St Anthony of Egypt, did not seek the solitary life. Rather he sought to draw together a community of believers, who through their life and action witnessed to Christ in the world, a community which has inspired Christians in every generation.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That community begun here so many centuries ago must surely have struggled with the same challenges of living together in peace and harmony as we do now in the 21st century, both in the Church and in the world. So often in our dealings with one another we become easily frustrated and disappointed. Through lack of charity and grace we fail to display the virtues of the Christian life so needed, and we constantly seek to draw on our own strength, our own pride, our own belief, rather than placing ourselves before the Father in humility and silence.听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The challenge for Christians today is profound 鈥� to proclaim by our lives, our deeds, our words, that individuals can live together, and can do so without fear or trepidation, without distrust or malice. Such an existence would witness gloriously to the love of God at work in the world. It would display to the self-seeking society in which we live that compassion, care, concern for the other is mutually beneficial and transformational.听听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For me, some of the most profound moments of belonging and transformation which I have experienced, have come when I鈥檝e been on pilgrimage. Many times I have travelled with a group of people to holy places, and it is through the fellowship shared, the mutual support of each other whilst journeying together, and the times of worship and spiritual reflection especially at journeys end which are so exhilarating.听 Walking to St Davids on one occasion, I was amazed that despite being very close to the end of the journey it was at that point most of all that I wanted the journey to continue. It was a desire to continue journeying together and sharing in fellowship through the good and the bad along the way. I find it鈥檚 through such experiences that we can encounter the reality of Christian living. Through pilgrimage, we learn to grow in grace, and through our common experience we knit ourselves together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Such an experience is at the heart of this Cathedral Church. For this is a place of pilgrimage, a place where countless generations have come to honour the example of St David, who throughout his life and ministry pointed others to Christ.听 The deathbed words of St David to his disciples to 鈥渂e joyful, keep the faith, do the little things鈥� speak eloquently of what is to be a Christian and to live out that life in a meaningful way within this world. For by displaying those virtues which St Paul described, we will bring joy into our lives and into the lives of those around us. By exemplifying those virtues in our behavior and action we will be proclaiming by both word and deed our faith in Jesus Christ. By doing the little things, we remind ourselves that we cannot act alone, and that only by engaging with those whom God has called us to serve and live with, can we hope to advance his kingdom and build up his Church here on earth.

Item 14:听听听听听 Link 鈥� Canon Dorrien Davies

The choir now sing the Anthem 鈥淥 Ddewi Sanctaidd 鈥� O Great Saint David鈥� written by contemporary Welsh composer and organist Meirion Wynn Jones. The anthem, sung now in Welsh, is in praise of St David听 - for his great inspiration and teaching.

Item 15: CHOIR - ANTHEM听 - 鈥淥 Ddwei Sanctaidd鈥澨�听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

Item 16听听 : PRAYERS led by Mrs Rosie Davies &听 Mr Paul Evans

Mrs Rosemary Davies

Let us pray,

Almighty and loving Father, hear our prayer as we are joined together in worship this morning. May our understanding of togetherness strengthen our faith, bind us in Christian unity and encourage us in our lives to work together for all those things which bring light and peace to us and the whole world

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Mr Paul Evans

We pray for Christians everywhere. May the spirit of fellowship bring courage and vision to all who are being persecuted.听 听We pray for those men and women whose lives of sacrifice proclaim your Gospel and Kingdom. Send your blessing on this Diocese of St Davids, our Bishop and all who live, work and worship in this place. We pray for those who visit here as pilgrims, may their faith be deepened and their prayers be heard; and for those who come as tourists, may they realize, in the beauty of this place, the presence of your love in their lives.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Mrs Rosemary Davies

Prince of peace, unite the nations. May a true sense of togetherness help us to appreciate all that that can be done to bring about an end to war, violence, greed and selfishness. As Saint David established a life of community, may our communities be mindful of the needs of others so that your Kingdom may be our common purpose so that we may live together in peace and unity.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Mr Paul Evans

Lord Jesus, be with the sick and those who suffer, may they find healing and comfort. May your love be reflected in the care given by doctors, nurses and all who work in the caring professions and may we all strive to reflect your love as David did. Help us to rely on your gospel and sacraments as a source of wellbeing and hope to make us whole in body, mind and spirit.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Mrs Rosemary Davies

We remember before you all those who have lived lives of faith and are now at rest. We praise you for the hope which the resurrection promise brings. United with the departed, St David and all your saints, we join in the universal prayer which you taught us for our help and consolation, as we say together鈥�Our Father鈥�

ITEM 17: THE LORD鈥橲 PRAYER (said by all)听

鈥�who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name

thy kingdom come

thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.听 Amen.

Item 18: LINK 鈥� Canon Dorrien Davies

As we remember with thanksgiving the fellowship we have through our connection with the past and our communion with the saints in St Davids, we sing the hymn 鈥楲ord, who in thy perfect wisdom鈥�, written by Bishop Timothy Rees for the community here - a modern text about the Welsh saints sung to one of our most familiar national hymn tunes:

Item 19: HYMN 鈥� CONGREGATION & CHOIR

Lord, who in thy perfect wisdom

Item 20: BLESSING 鈥� The Dean

BLESSING 1

May God who kindled the fire of his love in the heart of St David and all his saints, pour upon you the riches of his grace.

Amen

May God give you the grace to be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things, so that you may share in the fellowship of the saints.

Amen.

May God strengthen you to follow them in the spirit of holiness and togetherness so that we may come to the full radiance of his glory. Amen

SHORT BLESSING

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always.听 Amen.

Item 21: ORGAN VOLUNTARY 鈥淛ubilate鈥� (William Mathias)听

Organist :听 Simon Pearce.

Closing anno from Radio 4

Sunday Worship came live from St. David鈥檚 Cathedral in Pembrokeshire and was led by The Rev鈥檇 Canon Dorrien Davies.听 The preacher was the Dean of St Davids, the Very Reverend Jonathan Lean and the Cathedral Choir was directed by Oliver Waterer.听 The organist was Simon Pearce and the producer was Karen Walker.听

鈥漌e worship God in favour of the powerless and despised鈥� is the theme taken by Dr Rowan Williams in next week鈥檚 Sunday Worship which remembers how, seventy years ago out of the ashes of World War II, churches across the UK came together to work for a better world.听 And you may like to know that resources for individuals and groups reflecting the themes of our services on Radio 4 this Lent are available from the Sunday Worship web pages.